The BroadcastsTelevision: ESPN will televise the game with Brad Nessler and Todd Blackledge in the booth and Holly Rowe on the the sidelines.

Radio: WBNS (FM 97.1 The Fan) is the flagship station for the 73-station Ohio State radio network. The Luke Fickell pregame show airs 30 minutes prior to kickoff. Paul Keels will call the play-by-play with former Buckeye Jim Lachey in the booth and Marty Bannister on the sidelines. The game can also be heard live on Sirius-XM satellite radio and Westwood One.

First and 10

Head coach Luke Fickell picked up his first victory over a ranked opponent with a 17-7 win at No. 15 Illinois Oct. 15.

The Buckeyes rank sixth in the NCAA with 27.2 yards per kickoff return.

About the Badgers
Wisconsin is ranked No. 15 in the latest BCS standings with a 6-1 overall record and a 2-1 mark in the Big Ten Leaders Division. Its only blemish came at the hands of Michigan State on a last-second, 44-yard Hail Mary TD pass at the end of regulation that handed UW its first setback of the season, 37-31. The loss snapped a nine-game conference winning streak by the Badgers along with their 13-game regular-season winning streak.

The Badgers enter Saturday's game at the Horseshoe ranked No. 5 nationally in scoring, averaging 47.3 points per game. They also rank in the Top 10 in the NCAA in rushing (8th, 252.1 ypg), total offense (8th, 511.7) and passing efficiency (2nd, 193.1). Junior running back Monte Ball leads the nation in scoring at 16.29 points per game and is 15th with 109.7 rushing yards per game -- good for second best in the Big Ten. Quarterback Russell Wilson leads the Big Ten and is second nationally in passer efficiency (204.9). He has completed 109 of 149 pass attempts for 1,780 yards with 16 TDs and three interceptions.

The other side of the ball has posted some of the better defensive numbers in the country as well, ranking in the Top 10 in total defense (9th, 286.7 ypg), fewest points allowed (6th, 13.5 ppg) and pass defense (4th, 165.5 ypg). They also rank second in punt returns with a 20.0 ypg average. Sophomore linebacker Chris Borland leads the team with 71 tackles and 10.0 TFL to go along with 2.0 sacks and one interception.

Bret Bielema (Iowa, 1992) is in his sixth season as the head coach with a 55-17 record entering Saturday's game. He has led the Badgers to bowl appearances all five seasons, including a trip to the Rose Bowl last season.

OSU-UW Series
The series between the Buckeyes and the Badgers, which dates back to 1913, shows Ohio State with a 53-17-5 lead. In games played in Columbus, the Buckeyes lead 29-7-3. In games played in Madison, the Buckeyes lead 24-10-2. Ohio State has an 8-5-1 advantage over the last 14 meetings (back through 1980). The Buckeyes have won the last three meetings between the squads. (Note: the 2010 season was vacated by The Ohio State University).

Ohio State to Wear Advanced Nike Uniforms for Wisconsin Game
Ohio State will be donning uniquely designed, highly advanced Nike uniforms Saturday against Wisconsin, honoring the 50th anniversary of The Ohio State University's undefeated 1961 championship season -- a distinctive milestone that provides a source of inspiration for a program steeped in tradition and rooted in pride. The 2011 Nike Pro Combat system of dress design for the Buckeyes harkens back to that team, whose offensive power lived in its backfield, led by the 6'0, 227 pound All-American fullback, Bob Ferguson. The Heisman runner-up was a power runner and contributed immensely to the team's noteworthy speed, aggression and smarts. This uniform acknowledges the dominance of the 1961.

Distinctive white block lettering on Ohio State's bold scarlet jersey is accompanied by gray sleeve and collar accents that provide a retro look high in contrast. An inscription of the year "1961" on the inner neckline, socks and sleeves act as a silent reminder of the indisputable determination of that year's lineup. A steel gray baselayer and matching arm sleeves feature a print reminiscent of a buckeye tree. These two pieces are patterned after Buckeye Grove - home to a collection of buckeye trees planted in honor of each first team All-American player, like Ferguson, whose presence always commanded respect. Dark gray pants complement the baselayer design, emblazoned with a prominent block `O' on the hip alongside a scarlet streak on the pant leg.

Homecoming
Saturday will be the 90th Homecoming celebrated at Ohio State with the Buckeyes 64-19-5 in Homecoming games. The 2010 game is not reflected in the overall record.

Stoneburner on John Mackey Midseason Watch ListJake Stoneburner was named to the midseason watch list for the John Mackey Award, given annually to the nation's top tight end. He is one of 25 individuals under consideration for the award.

Stoneburner, a fourth-year junior from the Columbus suburb of Dublin and a family resource management major, leads the Buckeyes with 12 receptions (for 150 yards) and six touchdowns. He caught his sixth touchdown pass Saturday against Illinois, a 17-yarder from Braxton Miller that was the only completion on the day for Ohio State in its 17-7 win over the 16th-ranked and previously unbeaten Illini.

Some Notes From Champaign

Daniel "Boom" Herron started the game on offense in his first game back this season. His first carry on the second play from scrimmage went for a first down. He finished the game with 114 yards on 23 carries and one TD. It marked the fourth 100-yard rushing game of his career.

Herron has rushed for 320 yards and 5 TDs in four career games vs. Illinois.

Herron has now scored a TD in 13 consecutive games.

Herron is the second among active Big Ten players in rushing with 2,308 yards, trailing UM's Denard Robinson. He also is second in rushing TD's with 30, behind UW's Monte Ball (39).

Ohio State went 2-of-2 in the red zone against Illinois and is now 18 of 21 on the season. The only three times Ohio State has failed to score inside the red zone was on a fumble and on two end-of-game possessions to run out the clock against Akron and Colorado.

Illinois was shutout in the first half for the first time all season.

Illinois came in averaging 447 yards of total offense and was held to 285.

Ohio State forced Illinois to punt on all five possessions in the first half.

Bradley Roby intercepted his third pass of the season in the third quarter, setting up Ohio State's first touchdown.

Storm Klein recorded his first career fumble recovery in the fourth quarter on a Tyler Moeller forced fumble on UI's A.J. Jenkins.

Johnathan Hankins had a career-high nine tackles and tied a career best with 2.0 TFL.

John Simon finished the game with 2.0 sacks and 4.0 TFL, the most by a Buckeye since 2007. The 4.0 TFL also is tied for second best on OSU's all-time single-game list.

Simon also had a career-best eight tackles.

Travis Howard intercepted his third career pass and his first of the season in the fourth quarter.

Drew Basil finished 1-for-1 on FGs (43-yarder) and has now made eight in a row on the season.

Ben Buchanan punted seven times, dropping two inside the 20. He now has a Big Ten leading 17 punts inside the 20 this season.

Stoneburner's Fifth in Career TDsJake Stoneburner has moved into a tie for fifth place among Ohio State tight ends with eight career touchdown receptions. The junior caught his fifth touchdown this season - a 32-yard screen pass from Braxton Miller with blocking assistance from Mike Brewster and Mike Adams - in the first quarter against Nebraska and his sixth with a 17-yarder from Miller at Illinois.

Basil's Streak Reaches Eight
Kicker Drew Basil, after missing the first four attempts of his career (including two from over 50 yards last year), has now made eight consecutive field goals after a 43-yarder at Illinois. He is 8 of 10 on field goals this season plus 19 for 19 on extra points.

Boom Sharp In Return
Dan "Boom" Herron, in his first game of the season, looked sharp and strong in netting 114 rushing yards off 23 carries plus scored on a 12-yard TD run to give the Buckeyes a 10-0 third quarter lead at Illinois Oct. 15. Herron had a long gain of 21 yards on a day when the Illini were asked only to stop the run as the Buckeyes attempted just four passes and completed one on a swirling-windy day in Champaign, Ill. The 100-yard game was the fourth for Herron.

Herron was a first-team all-Big Ten running back last year after rushing for 1,155 yards and scoring 16 touchdowns. The senior has 2,308 career rushing yards - tied for 16th at Ohio State - and 30 rushing touchdowns.

Herron had three 100-yard performances in the final five games of last season. He had 114 at Minnesota, a career-high 190 at Penn State and 175 in the win over Michigan, including a penalty-shortened 89-yard run that was the longest play from scrimmage in school history. Herron rushed for at least one touchdown in each of the final 12 games of the 2010 season.

More on Boom ...

Herron has rushed for at least one TD in his last 13 games, longest run for a Buckeye since Pete Johnson ran for at least one score in 13 consecutive games from 1975-76. Keith Byars ran for at least one rushing TD in 21 straight games during the 1983-84 seasons.

Ohio State is 21-3 in the 24 games in which Herron has scored a rushing touchdown.

The Buckeyes are 19-1 in Herron's career when he has rushed for at least 55 yards. He totaled 91 yards on 19 carries in the loss on Oct. 16, 2010 at Wisconsin.

Herron is tied for 16th with Pete Johnson on Ohio State's all-time rushing list with 2,308 career yards.

Five Consecutive Leaders Games
The game this week against the Badgers is the second during a stretch of five consecutive games against Leaders Division opponents for the Buckeyes before closing out with the traditional season-ender vs. Michigan, which is situated in the Legends Division.

Roby Making Name for Himself
Redshirt freshman cornerback Bradley Roby is tied for second in the Big Ten with three interceptions this season. His latest came in the win at Illinois when he returned a third-quarter INT 36 yards down the sidelines to set up Ohio State's first touchdown. He is tied with teammate C.J. Barnett for fourth in the Big Ten with six passes defended and has 21 tackles and 3.0 TFL from his cornerback position.

Buchanan Now at 17 I20
Another fine punting game by Ben Buchanan at Illinois included two more punts inside the 20. Buchanan ranks fourth nationally and leads the Big Ten with 17 punts inside the 20. He also leads with 42 punts. His 41.3 yard average ranks sixth in the Big Ten.

In October
The Buckeyes boast an all-time record of 361-128-28 in October games. Ohio State is 247-64-20 in October home games and 115-64-8 on the road that month.

Miller Solid in Starting DebutBraxton Miller, just the third freshman to start at quarterback for Ohio State, rushed for 83 yards, passed for 83 yards and threw two touchdown passes to Devin Smith to lead Ohio State to a 37-17 win over Colorado Sept. 24 at Ohio Stadium. Miller and Smith hooked up on a 32-yard score in the second quarter to increase the lead to 17-0 and a 17-yard TD connection in the third to extend the lead to 27-7. Miller was 5 of 13 passing and he gained all of his rushing yards in the first half as he staked the Buckeyes to a 20-7 halftime lead. He did not have any turnovers despite constant blitzing from the Colorado defenders.

Miller has played in five games thus far in his Buckeye career, completing 25 of 47 passes for 386 yards with four TDs and one INT. He also has carried 49 times for 209 yards. He totaled a season-high 186 yards of total offense at No. 14 Nebraska through two and a half quarters before leaving the game with an ankle injury.

Miller led Wayne High School to the Division I state title game in 2010 while passing for 2,167 yards and 17 TDs while rushing for 658 yards and 17 TDs as a senior. He had a career record of 31-7 over three seasons and was a finalist for Ohio's Mr. Football. A first team all-state selection, he also played in the 2010 Under Armour All-American Game.

Braxton's Finest Hour Cut Short
Freshman quarterback Braxton Miller was enjoying his finest game as a Buckeye through two-and-a-half quarters vs. Nebraska. His rushing - career-high 91 yards - and passing - 5 of 8 for 95 yards with one touchdown - had staked the Buckeyes to a 27-6 lead against No. 14 Nebraska in wet and louder than loud Memorial Stadium. His third quarter fumble just inside of the 8 minute mark led to a quick Cornhusker score and he left the game for good on his next series with a sprained ankle. The Cornhuskers eventually rallied with 28 consecutive points to claim a 34-27 victory.

Brewster Reaches 43 Straight
All-American center Mike Brewster started his 43rd consecutive game Saturday at Nebraska. The senior from Orlando, Fla. made his first start in Game 4 of the 2008 season vs. Troy and started the final 10 games of the season. He started all 13 games in 2009 and 2010, respectively, in addition to the first six games this year.

Red Zone Efficiency
Ohio State has scored 18 of 21 times (85.7 percent) this season inside the 20 with 13 touchdowns and five field goals. The only three times the Buckeyes have failed to score came on a fumble and on two end-of-game possessions against Akron and Colorado while running out the clock.

Since Rod Smith's fumble in the first quarter against Akron, Ohio State has scored on 17 consecutive red zone possessions if you don't count the two possessions in which the Buckeyes took a knee to run out the clock.

Noting the Buckeyes

After the loss to Miami in week 3 the Buckeyes fell out of the AP Top 25 for the first time since Nov. 20, 2004 -- nearly 7 years and ending the nation's longest current streak of appearances in the Top 25 (103 straight weeks).

Tight end Jake Stoneburner set a modern day Ohio State record for tight ends by catching three touchdown passes vs. Akron Sept. 3, from 28, 11 and 2 yards out with Bauserman throwing all three. Stoneburner, who came into the game with two career touchdowns, finished with four catches for 50 yards. The Ohio State record for career touchdowns by a tight end: 10 by John Lumpkin from 1996-98.

Senior All-America center Mike Brewster is regarded by some as the best center in college football. He is a four-year starter with 43 career starts. In 2010 he was the only junior to rank among finalists for the Rimington Trophy, was a first team all-Big Ten selection and a FWAA and Phil Steele first team All-American. This season Brewster was named to the preseason Playboy All-America team, the Rimington and Outland Trophy watch lists and was voted one of 12 "players to watch" by a Big Ten media panel.

Junior defensive lineman John Simon was named Big Ten defensive player of the week for his performance at Illinois Oct. 15. He recorded a career-high 8.0 tackles, 4.0 TFL and 2.0 sacks. Simon named one of 12 "players to watch" at the Big Ten media days in July. Simon has 83 career tackles and 19.5 TFL. A promising defensive star with power and strength, Simon was an honorable mention all-Big Ten selection and Lott Trophy nominee in 2010 as a true sophomore.

Senior linebacker Andrew Sweat leads the Buckeyes with 49 tackles this season. He recorded a team-high six tackles, including 2.0 TFL, a forced fumble and an interception against Akron in the season opener and had five and 1.0 TFL against Toledo. He had a 9-tackle performance at Nebraska and a 10-tackle, 1.5 TFL performance against Michigan State. He now has a team-best 110 career tackles, 9.0 TFL and three INTs.

The Silver Bullet Defense
The Buckeyes have a long-standing tradition of producing the best defenses in the Big Ten and the nation year in, year out and rank in the top 25 nationally in several defensive categories in 2011. Here are some bullets that put into perspective the Silver Bullets dominance:

Ohio State has featured a Top 20 scoring defense in each of the last nine seasons, including a top 6 in each of the last six.

Year

PPG Allowed

FBS Rank

2010

14.3

5th

2009

12.5

5th

2008

13.9

6th

2007

12.8

1st

2006

12.8

5th

2005

15.3

5th

2004

18.3

19th

2003

17.6

16th

2002

13.1

2nd

Since the beginning of the 2005 season, the Ohio State defense has allowed only 13 100-yard rushers during a span of 85 games and only nine since the start of the 2007 season. Both of those marks are the third best among FBS schools during those spans.

Fewest 100-yd rushers allowed (FBS Teams Since 2005)

1.

Alabama

9

2.

Boston College

10

3.

Ohio State

13

4.

Florida

16

TCU

16

Fewest 100-yd rushers allowed (FBS Teams Since 2007)

1.

Alabama

4

2.

Boston College

8

3.

Ohio State

9

4.

Pittsburgh

10

Brigham Young

10

Last Nine players to rush for 100 yards since 2007:

Date

Player

Team

Att.-Yards

10/8/11

Taylor Martinez

at Nebraska

17-102

10/8/11

Rex Burkhead

at Nebraska

26-119

9/17/11

Lamar Miller

at Miami

26-184

1/4/11

Knile Davis

Arkansas

26-139

11/27/10

D. Robinson

Michigan

18 -105

10/16/10

John Clay

at Wisconsin

21-104

9/13/08

Joe McKnight

at USC

12-105

11/10/07

Daniel Dufrene

Illinois

8-106

9/15/07

Jake Locker

at Washington

14-102

Ohio State has allowed just one 100-yard rusher in the past 26 games at Ohio Stadium.

Since the 2005 season, Ohio State has finished either first or second in scoring defense among Big Ten teams all six years. The Buckeyes were first in 2010, 2007 and 2005 and second in 2009, 2008 and 2006.

Among FBS teams in 2010, Ohio State ranked fourth in total defense (262.2 ypg), third in rushing defense (96.7 ypg), eighth in pass defense (165.5 ypg), fifth in scoring defense (14.3 ppg) and fourth in TO margin (+1.15).

Ohio State has held 66 opponents to 21 points or fewer since the start of the 2005 season, the most among FBS teams with TCU.

Ohio State has allowed 124 touchdowns from scrimmage since the start of the 2005 season, the fewest by any FBS team in this span.

Ohio State has surrendered 52 rushing touchdowns since the start of the 2005 season. That mark is second fewest behind Alabama (50) for the fewest among FBS teams during that span.

Ohio State has allowed fewer than 10 points 31 times since the start of the 2006 season.

Ohio State has allowed an average of 13.6 points over the last six full seasons. That is the best scoring defense among FBS teams in this span. TCU is second at 14.2 points per game.

Ohio State had 30 takeaways last season. It was the second straight season that the Buckeyes forced at least 30 turnovers. The Buckeyes forced 35 in 2009.

Head coach Luke Fickell is backed by nine assistant coaches who have 184 years combined working as college assistant coaches or staff assistants in their careers.

Fickell is among four first-year head coaches in the Big Ten. The last time the Big Ten featured four first-year coaches: 1997. Illinois (Ron Turner), Indiana (Cam Cameron), Minnesota (Glen Mason) and Purdue (Joe Tiller) were hired that season.

Fickell picked up his first win over a ranked opponent with the 17-7 win at No. 16/15 Illinois Oct. 15 in Champaign. Fickell is 1-2 against ranked teams this season.

Fickell was the first Ohio State coach to face a defending Big Ten champion in his conference opener (Michigan State) since the Buckeyes began Big Ten competition in 1913. Since 1913, Ohio State coaches are 6-5-1 in their Big Ten debuts.

In guiding OSU to a season-opening win in his first game as coach, Fickell joins 20 other Buckeye coaches with a first-game win. OSU has had only 23 head coaches in 122 years of football and that group is 21-1-1 in first games.

Team/Miscellaneous Notes

Ohio State is tied with Oklahoma with eight BCS bowl appearances. USC is third with seven.

Ohio State is 1-2 in national title games since the inception of the BCS in 1998. The three national title game appearances match Florida State for the second-most all-time. Only Oklahoma has more with four.

Ohio State is 5-3 in BCS bowls, tied for second with Florida (5-1) for the most BCS Bowl wins all-time. USC is first at 6-1.

Ohio State has not finished with a losing record since finishing 4-6-1 in 1988 (John Cooper's first season leading the Buckeyes). Ohio State's run of 21 straight seasons without a losing record is the third-longest among active FBS teams. Florida State has gone 34 straight seasons since finishing 5-6 in 1976 and Florida has gone 31 seasons since going 0-10-1 in 1979. Virginia Tech and Texas Tech have the fourth-longest runs at 18 seasons each.

In Ohio State's eight BCS bowl appearances, they have only been the Big Ten's automatic BCS bowl qualifier four times (2002, 2006, 2007, 2009). They have received an at-large berth three times (1998, 2003, 2008) and were an automatic participant by the `3-4 rule' in 2005.

Ohio State has won the Fiesta Bowl three times, the Sugar Bowl once and the Rose Bowl once in the BCS era. The Buckeyes join Oklahoma (Orange, Rose and Fiesta), Florida (Orange, Sugar and BCS title game) and Miami (Sugar, Rose and Orange) as the only teams to win three different BCS bowls.

Ohio State is among three different programs to have appeared in at least four different BCS bowls, joining Oklahoma and Miami. The Buckeyes only need to play in the Orange Bowl to join Oklahoma as the only program to appear in five different BCS bowls. While Miami has won the BCS title (2001 season), they have not played in a bowl game specifically called the BCS title game.

Ohio State has appeared in a bowl game in 15 of the last 17 seasons. Fourteen of those bowl appearances have taken place in January (2004 Alamo Bowl). Ohio State has appeared in a January bowl in five of the past six seasons.

Ohio State (19) is tied with Michigan (19) for the most bowl wins all-time by a Big Ten team. Nebraska is 24-23 in bowl games, but has not represented the Big Ten in the postseason.

Ohio State has featured 14 NFL Draft first-round picks since 2004. That is the most by any college team in this span.

Ohio State has had 67 consecutive crowds of more than 100,000 at Ohio Stadium.

Ohio State has not lost a home opener in 34 years - Sept. 16, 1978 to be exact when No. 6 Ohio State suffered a 19-0 loss to No. 5 Penn State in Woody Hayes' final season.

Ohio State has an all-time opening game record of 105-12-4. The Buckeyes' last opening day loss away from Columbus was to Miami in the 1999 Kickoff Classic in East Rutherford, N.J.

All-time, the Buckeyes are 109-8-4 in home openers since 1890. The largest opening day crowd at Ohio Stadium was 105,092 in the 2009 opener vs. Navy.

Not Since 1922-24
Ohio State ranks second among all NCAA Div. I programs with 85 consecutive seasons since last posting back-to-back losing records. The Buckeyes have not been under .500 for two or more consecutive seasons since 1922-24, which trails only Tennessee; the Vols have not had back-to-back losing seasons since 1909-11, a span of 98 consecutive seasons.

Big Ten Announces 2013-14 Football Schedule
The Big Ten Conference has announced its 2013 and 2014 conference football schedules. Ohio State, a member of the Leaders division, will play four home and four away league contests in each of those seasons.

The Buckeyes' non-conference games for 2014 are Aug. 30 vs. Navy in Baltimore; followed by three games at Ohio Stadium: Sept. 6 vs. Cincinnati; Sept. 13 vs. Kent State; and Sept. 20 vs. Virginia Tech.

Big Ten to Play Nine Conference Games Beginning with 2017 Season
The Big Ten will move to a nine-game conference schedule beginning with the 2017 season.

Three teams each from the Legends Division and Leaders Division will feature five conference home games during odd-numbered years, while the other three schools from each division will host five conference contests during even-numbered years. The 2017 schedule will include five conference home outings for Iowa, Michigan State and Nebraska from the Legends Division and Illinois, Indiana and Ohio State from the Leaders Division. The 2018 schedule will feature five Big Ten home games for Michigan, Minnesota and Northwestern of the Legends Division and Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin of the Leaders Division. The Big Ten will return to a full nine-game conference schedule for the first time since the 1983 and 1984 seasons. Eight of 10 conference schools played nine-game schedules during the 1981 and 1982 seasons, while two of 10 teams featured nine-game schedules from 1971-72 and 1977-80.